Title: Collecting the Stars

Genre: Romance/Drama

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I no own

Note: This fic is AU, has slight OOC, and contains Yaoi. You have been warned.

Summary: [AU. Yaoi] – I'm Roxas, 16 and recently forced to live with my estranged father, whom I've never met. I'm stuck in a town where all they do is drugs, sex, and wild parties. And the only person who helps me keep what little sanity I have left is an eccentric red head who sneaks in through my window.

WARNING: Unbeta'd, beware the errors.

"Blah" means talking

"Blah" means phone conversations

Blah means thoughts

Chapter 7: Only One

(SORA'S POV)

Broken, this fragile thing now
And I can't, I can't pick up the pieces
And I've thrown my words all around
But I can't, I can't give you a reason
I feel so broken up (so broken up)
And I give up (and I give up)
I just wanna tell you so you know

Here I go, scream my lungs out
And try to get to you
You are my only ony
I let go
There's just no one who gets me like you do
You are my only, my only one

I had known for over two weeks that Kairi was coming to collect me, but I wasn't sure how to break the news to Roxas. He was going through a lot of his own drama, and I honestly didn't want to add what was going on with mine onto his.

Kairi had called me the day of the tornado warning, when I had spent the night in Traverse Town with Cloud. That day was pretty amazing, I got to spend the entire day with our father, getting to know him and talk to him about anything and everything. And the motorcycle ride was just plain awesome, I'd have to get one of my own some day.

In Traverse Town Cloud and I had gone to see a man named Cid (I think he was one of the people that Aeris had mentioned) for a package for Cloud's boss. Cid was a tall, cranky, older man who always had a cigarette dangling from his thin lips. He had crows feet and cropped blond hair that was kept spiked up, angry blue eyes and a slight limp to his step. In my opinion, and this was based on first impressions, he was a jerk off. Although later on Cloud tried to assure me that Cid had just lost his wife, Shera, not six months ago, and that before that he wasn't always an asshole— he was just grieving.

The storm was horrible over there, so we had to spend the night in one of the many hotels. Apparently everyone traveled there for business. We had managed to land a Jack-and-Jill room, so that way we had our privacy without being separated, just in case. My dad even took me to a restaurant to feast, which was awesome 'cause I tend to get hungry pretty fast. There was no such thing as too much food for me.

We sat there in the small, cozy, hole in the wall and enjoyed burgers the size of small pizzas, just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

"So, besides playing on the Blitz Ball team, what else are you into?" Cloud had asked in-between bites.

"I like fencing. Riku and I practice that all the time, he's the best on the boys team," I replied easily, no longer feeling that pinched pain in my chest whenever I mentioned my best friend.

"Riku? The boy who brought you here with Roxas' belongings?" Cloud looked up at my curiously, as if figuring something out.

I swallowed a large chunk of burger while nodding, "yeah, he's my , er... was, boyfriend." So there it was, out on the table, I looked my father straight in the eye and basically told him I was gay. It didn't bother me, unlike my twin; I wasn't in the closet and was perfectly comfortable in my skin.

To my surprise Cloud smiled, "are you going to get back with him any time soon? You two looked good together."

My face split into a happy smile, "yeah, probably, once I go back home."

He arched an eyebrow, "you're not staying here." He stated rather than asked, nodding to himself with his usual serious expression.

I shook my head and sighed, "I'm not," I stated, quietly agreeing with him, staring down at my hands which rested on the table. Unsure what else to say.

Cloud took a sip of his beverage and I looked out of the window, it was still raining outside.

The ride home on the slick, wet, streets while on a speeding motorcycle was exhilarating. It was so dangerous, something that my mother would never let me do, and it made me feel naughty doing something that would've been against her will. But at the same time, because I was with my father, I felt awesomely cool.

We got back to the house in one piece and Cloud mentioned something about the three of us cooking together something for dinner. The guy was trying, and it warmed me, so I agreed and stalked into Roxas' room.

It was time to deal with his drama, now wasn't the best time to tell him anything.

When Roxas had gone missing that one night I panicked, especially when Cloud asked when we'd be coming home. I told him the truth, for the most part; that we'd probably crash at Nam's place and that was that, we'd see him in the morning. What freaked me out was how my lovely twin didn't even bother answer his phone. I had left Nam's place early the next morning to get home just in case Roxas was there. And I ended up waiting a few hours afterwards.

When he showed up, looking guilty at the sight of me (which I took as a good sign), we went in through his window and he explained everything.

Knowing that he has spent the night with Axel wasn't as big of a deal as I had thought it would be. But, still, Axel was older and more experienced than my brother; I just didn't want my twin to get hurt. I didn't want to come back to Twilight Town only to pick up the broken fragments of my brothers heart and figure out how to super glue them back together. But, aside from telling him to be careful, there was nothing more that I could do about it. Roxas was his own person, as I was mine.

The second time Roxas went missing I wasn't all that worried about it, I went over to Nam's, as usual and chilled with her, Larxene, and Olette. It wasn't the usual party, it was just a small group of us and some others, relaxing and passing a bong. I didn't take a hit, I wanted to remain sober. The night went on until very early morning and ended with us all falling asleep on the floor, which, in retrospect, couldn't be very good for our backs.

I had left around one in the afternoon, thinking that Rox would be back at Cloud's by then. He wasn't, so I showered and relaxed on his bed, reading a book.

When Roxas finally stumbled through his window, his face was flushed and he was panting, out of breath. At one glance one could tell that his clothes were messily thrown on and he at a desperate look on his face.

I asked him "what's up?"

Roxas shrugged, trying to regain his breath and leaning hard against the wall. Something was wrong but Instead of asking him what was wrong, instead of asking and assuring him that things were going to be okay, the words "Kairi called, she's going to be coming by tomorrow. To take me home." Slipped out.

Then my twin fainted. I'm sure it was the lack of oxygen going to his brain, after checking him over, he seemed fine. I rearranged his position to be a bit more comfortable and waited for him to wake up.

Roxas, always the dramatic one out of the two of us, woke up not an hour later and gawked at me.

"You're....leaving?" He asked, as if not at all sure what else to say.

I sighed and closed the book that was on my lap, "yeah, I'm going back to the islands."

"How long have you been planning this without telling me?" Blue eyes the same color as my own glared heatedly at me, anger directed straight at me.

"Maybe if you weren't so busy wrapped up in your own bullshit drama you would've noticed!" I shot back from my spot on his bed, but I took in a few deep breaths and sagged back onto the bed, letting everything go. "I never said I was staying here Rox."

"Yeah, but..." he frowned and sat at the end of the bed, "I thought you were going to stay the whole summer."

"The summer's over in less than two weeks," I sighed, "I have to go back eventually. And...I miss Riku." The mention of Riku made my heart hurt, I did miss him. I had sorted myself out, for the most part, I had thought and decided that leaving Roxas would be the best choice for me. I love my brother, and we'll always be twins and we'll always be close, but I need Riku. Like a person needs air in order to survive.

The very thought of a life without Riku there in it every single day scares me so damn much.

Roxas just continued to frown at me, "I'm sorry that I've been so self absorbed Sora. I... you know it's not like that."

I cracked a smile, "I know Rox. So, what happened today that caused you to pass out upon arival?"

This time he sighed, "Olette walked in on me leaving Axel's place." He grimanced and I just stared at him with wide eyes.

"Are you fucking serious?" I asked, jaw dropping, "holy shit dude. What're you going to do?"

"I don't know," he whined, "what should I do?"

"You didn't even bother to stay and explain things did you?" I asked, a slight chuckle to my voice, the entire thing was just funny in a twisted way to me.

He focused a glare my way again, "no."

I let out a snort of laughter, "you're so stupid!"

Roxas just whined again, a pathetic whimper of a sound. It made me laugh harder.

I had hugged Squall and Cloud goodbye earlier that morning, getting up early enough to see them off to work. Cloud kissed my forhead and it left me feeling loved and warm. My father loved me. I promised him that I would visit for spring break, and bring Riku with me if we were still together when that time rolled around.

Kairi rang the doorbell around noon, that was how both Roxas and I knew it was her, everyone else in this town just knocked on the bedroom window. I was wearing the same outfit I had been wearing when I had first arrived, only this time with The Nobodies band shirt over my normal one.

She had let her hair grow a bit since the last time I saw her a few months ago, and she had lost a little bit of weight, but she was the same auburn haired, violet blue eye colored, perky girl she always had been.

Kairi smiled at us, getting Roxas first in a tight squeeze of a hug, and then getting me as her next victim. "I've missed you guys so much, the island just isn't the same without you two." She said while letting me go, giving us both a once over.

"When does our plan leave?" I asked her, we had to take the train to Radiant Garden since that was where the closest airport was located.

"Two hours," Kairi grinned easily, and I almost winced at how it must've been for her, flying all this way for me only to fly right back afterwards. She must've had a fit when Riku told her this, because I know for a fact that it was Riku who sent her, or she volunteered to go in his seat. Knowing Riku he'd be too nervous to come on his own.

"Two hours, which means we should leave now...damn it Kai, why didn't you just have me meet you over in Radiant Garden?" I asked her, annoyed.

She smiled that lazy smile of hers, "because I've never ridden a traing before. And I wanted to see Roxas."

"He could've gone to Radiant Garden too," but I knew it was a losing battle with her, Kairi always got what she wanted, no matter what.

"I'll walk you guys to the station," Roxas offered peacefully, reverting back to the old Roxas from the island with Kairi right there. I liked the old Roxas, the new Twilight Town one worried me.

"That'd be great! We can catch up on the walk!" Kairi beamed, taking Roxas' hand within her own, she began to drag him out of the house via the front door when he stopped her.

"Um, you guys are gonna have to go through the front door, I don't have a key yet so I'll have to lock up from the inside and go out through my window." Roxas had the decency to look slightly embarassed by this fact.

Kairi stared with wide eyes, "I've never crawled through a window before. I want to do it too!" She looked excited, and ready for some sort of silly adventure. Like the types we had when we were kids. It was too bad that we were nearly adults now.

"Okay," Roxas shrugged, closing the front door behind Kairi and locking it, leading us through the house and towards his still barely furnished bedroom, and opened the window that everyone had used at least once during this summer.

I climbed through first, Kairi following behind me, and then Roxas.

We began to walk towards the train station.

Roxas looked down at his feet, our train had just arrived, he hugged Kairi goodbye and then turned to me, "call weekly?" He looked up into my eyes.

"Email daily?" I stared right back.

"Text regularly?" He looked like he was losing his best friend, and I know for a fact that was probably happening. I was going back to the island, our relationship will never be the same again as it was while growin up.

"If you need anything, contact me right away." I stated seriously.

We hugged, tighter than most guys should hug, but it didn't matter. This was my brother, my twin, my other half. "I love you Rox," I whispered.

"Love you too Sor," he whispered back, and I wonder vaguely if I sounded as sad as he did.

When we pulled apart we threw each other identical smiles, not saying anything else as I was dragged into the train while Roxas remained on the platform. I swallowed the lump in me throat as the train began to move.

"You guys can always visit each other," Kairi assured me, rubbing soothing circles on my back like one would do to a crying child.

"Yeah," I agreed, but I knew that things would never again be the same.

It was my first time on a plane, and it was exciting, I would love to be a pilot when I grow up. I said this to Kairi and she laughed, saying that we were growing up. At least she noticed. One especially grows up faster when they no longer have a mother.

We landed on the main island about an hour later and got off of the plan fairly quickly considering we had no luggage to claim. I followed Kairi, looking around the airport in awe, I had rarely been on the main islands airport since there was never a need for me to be here. The main island was for school and shopping, that was it.

Kairi chatted about Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka, she talked about the guy that she had liked last year and about how there had yet to be any tropical storms this summer. I half paid attention to her while searching the ocean of people for a head of silver hair.

Did he not come to see me? But, then again, why would he? Maybe he found someone who wasn't such a mess while I was away for those few months.

Someone grabbed my hand as Kairi and I were heading towards the exit of the airport. Warm, calloused, large, hands wrapped around my own. My heart skipped a beat as I turned around and came face to face with him.

"Riku," I breathed, getting lost in his vibrant green eyes. I wanted to lean forward and kiss him, right here where everyone could see us. I didn't give a damn what they all thought.

"Hey Sora," he smiled easily down at me, hand now linking our fingers together, "hey Kairi," he greeted the only female in the group.

"Hey Riku, did you drive over?" she asked, looking amused.

Riku tossed her his keys, "I'm in the parking garage, section C." His eyes were on me while telling her this.

Kairi smiled as she walked away leisurely, looking for all the world like nothing was going to rush her in life. And knowing her, nothing probably would.

I enjoyed the feeling of Riku's fingers entwined with my own, and his plam against mines. "Hey," I greeted him belatedly, and realized that I probably sounded like a complete idiot, but with Riku that was something that normally occured.

"How was your flight?" He asked, leading me the same direction Kairi had gone, only walking slower.

"It was pretty awesome," I answered honestly, "how was your summer?"

"Decent, I did a lot of community service hours for that scholarship that I applied for," Riku said airily, not really interesting in what was coming out of his mouth. "How about you? How was your summer?"

It felt as if we were both just avoiding the subject. Were we a couple? Was it okay for us to hold hands like this? Did we still love each other as much as we had before everything went to shit in my life?

"Interesting. I learned a lot about my family," I answered easily, "I also learned, that if left to his own devices, Roxas is a slut," I joked, grinning up at Riku.

He smiled back down at me and I forgot how to breathe. But my feet still kept walking, and my hand was still held firmly within his.

"So, how was—" I started.

"I love you," Riku blurted out, cutting off all further thought process on my part. We were in the parking garage and we had stopped walking. He gave me a look of pure worry and fear, but at the same time he wasn't going to take back what he said.

"I love you," I replied, looking up at him and semi-hating the fact that he was a good four inches taller than me.

But Riku's face bloomed into that smile. The smile that always melted my heart. He leaned over, with our hands still linked, and gave me an eskimo kiss. Which caused me to laugh and place a soft kiss on his mouth, he kissed back, which caused warm tingles to spread throughout my entire body.

We pulled away after a few seconds and Kairi pulled up next to us, rolling down the passenger window, "come one you lazy bums, we better get going if we're going to catch the ferry back home."

"You're not driving us," Riku laughed, "get your ass to the back Kai."

She mock-pouted but did as she was told. Riku opened the passenger door for me, to which I dramatically rolled my eyes about, a happy grin on my face. He slid into the driver's seat and began heading towards the port with the ferry that would take us home.

Home.

Kairi chatted away and Riku gave his occasional input while still holding onto my hand as he drove.

This was where I belonged. As much as going to other places, places that seemed like other worlds, sounds like a fun adventure, these islands were where I would always belong. With Kairi, Tidus, Selphie, Wakka and Riku. Especially Riku. Maybe, one day far away, Roxas would come back here, or maybe not. My brother would always belong here, even if he doesn't see it.

Riku gave my hand a squeeze and looked over at me with those eyes filled with love, I smiled sweetly at him before looking out of the window.

TBC

ECK: Utter crap, Sora wasn't as easy to write this time. But I figured it's been gasp two months since I've last updated! YIKES! Sorry everyone! I've been busy: went on vacation, started working again, started a new semester at school, had a birthday come and go; life has been going onward, it's been amazing.

In this chapter I wanted to focus more on Sora's emotions than anything else. I know it feels all a bit rushed, but I didn't want to repeat what Roxas already talked about in previous chapters.

Please, please, PLEASE review! Flames, angry hate filled ones, are more than welcome.